04 October 2004	Monday	18 Shaban 1425

LARKANA, Oct 3: A kidnapped rice trader, Santosh Kumar, was recovered by police from the Kutcha area of Bagarji in Sukkur district. He had been kidnapped from near the Pakho police post on the Indus Highway on July 4.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, DPO Muzaffar Shaikh claimed the kidnappers, Amin Shaikh and Umar Jatoi, were compelled by police to release him without any ransom.

He said the investigation would continue and the probe team might expand its scope to touch the bottom. Speaking on the occasion, Kumar said he had been freed by his kidnappers on Sunday in the kutcha area of Bagarji. "They released me without any ransom", he claimed.

He said they used to pressurize him to pay Rs2 crorers as ransom but he had constantly been denying. Finally, they had asked to arrange eight million rupees but again I refused, he said.

"The recovery of Kumar is a result of a deal", a source said, adding Sadoo Narejo's gang was involved in the kidnapping. Moving scenes were witnessed on the reunion of Kumar with his family members on his recovery after three months in captivity.